Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-02-17

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER

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Context

On 2026-02-17, Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ-4) delivered a floor speech titled "CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment, trade policy.

Full Text

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 32 (Tuesday, February 17, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 17, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E139] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER ______ HON. GREG STANTON of arizona in the house of representatives Tuesday, February 17, 2026 Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center in Phoenix. The museum is a truly historic site with real significance for Black history in Arizona and the United States. The building that houses the museum, known today as ``The Carver,'' is itself a storied symbol of both injustice and perseverance. It first opened in 1926 as the Phoenix Union Colored High School, the only Arizona high school built exclusively to serve Black students during the era of segregation. That difficult history is inseparable from the Carver's legacy. Today, the site stands as a place dedicated to preserving and retelling Black history. Any account of Black history in Arizona is incomplete without the Carver. Despite school segregation, the Carver produced graduates who went on to become leaders, public servants, artists, educators, and civil rights advocates. The building is standing proof that talent and hard work are rewarded, even when the opportunity for success was difficult, if not impossible, to come by in a racially segregated world. The school closed in the 1950s following the desegregation of Phoenix high schools, but the future of the building was uncertain. Alumni and community leaders recognized its historical and cultural importance and mobilized to save it from demolition. In 1996, the site was reborn as the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, ensuring that the legacy of those who studied, taught, and organized there would not be lost. The Carver Museum today preserves and shares formative chapters of Black history in Arizona through exhibitions, archives, educational programming, and community events. Exhibits share the experiences and contributions of African Americans who helped shape Phoenix and Arizona history. The importance of the Carver goes beyond historical preservation. The museum is a community gathering place. It is a space for learning and bringing people from different backgrounds and generations together. It is a resource for educators and researchers, a powerful reminder that Black history is not distant or abstract. It is local and lived. The Carver is foundational to the story of Black history in Phoenix and our state. By preserving the past, the museum helps current and future generations of Arizonans become well-rounded, and well-informed civic leaders who are ready to serve our community and make a real difference. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center on its 100th anniversary. May it continue to educate, inspire, and remind us that honoring history is essential to building justice and opportunity for all. ____________________

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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 32 (Tuesday, February 17, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 17, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E139] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER ______ HON. GREG STANTON of arizona in the house of representatives Tuesday, February 17, 2026 Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center in Phoenix. The museum is a truly historic site with real significance for Black history in Arizona and the United States. The building that houses the museum, known today as ``The Carver,'' is itself a storied symbol of both injustice and perseverance. It first opened in 1926 as the Phoenix Union Colored High School, the only Arizona high school built exclusively to serve Black students during the era of segregation. That difficult history is inseparable from the Carver's legacy. Today, the site stands as a place dedicated to preserving and retelling Black history. Any account of Black history in Arizona is incomplete without the Carver. Despite school segregation, the Carver produced graduates who went on to become leaders, public servants, artists, educators, and civil rights advocates. The building is standing proof that talent and hard work are rewarded, even when the opportunity for success was difficult, if not impossible, to come by in a racially segregated world. The school closed in the 1950s following the desegregation of Phoenix high schools, but the future of the building was uncertain. Alumni and community leaders recognized its historical and cultural importance and mobilized to save it from demolition. In 1996, the site was reborn as the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, ensuring that the legacy of those who studied, taught, and organized there would not be lost. The Carver Museum today preserves and shares formative chapters of Black history in Arizona through exhibitions, archives, educational programming, and community events. Exhibits share the experiences and contributions of African Americans who helped shape Phoenix and Arizona history. The importance of the Carver goes beyond historical preservation. The museum is a community gathering place. It is a space for learning and bringing people from different backgrounds and generations together. It is a resource for educators and researchers, a powerful reminder that Black history is not distant or abstract. It is local and lived. The Carver is foundational to the story of Black history in Phoenix and our state. By preserving the past, the museum helps current and future generations of Arizonans become well-rounded, and well-informed civic leaders who are ready to serve our community and make a real difference. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center on its 100th anniversary. May it continue to educate, inspire, and remind us that honoring history is essential to building justice and opportunity for all. ____________________